week of feb 5 - World Religions February 5 2008 JAINISM 4-6...

World Religions February 5, 2008JAINISM-4-6 million Jains-India: 80% Hindu; 13% Islam; 3-5% Christian; 2% Sikhs; <1% Buddhists; Jainism is less than Buddhists in India-Jainism: A Reaction to oVedasoThe Caste System-Jain Temples:o24 statuesoTirthankaras – important founders (who reached moksha)First: Parshva – days of Vedas Last: Mahavira aka Great Hero – 500 BC-500 BC: Buddha, Mahavira, Confucius, Lao-Tzu, Jeremiah-Shvetambaras: (a monastic community)oWhite clothes, liberal, larger, women can reach mokshaoDo not believe that Mahavira married-Digambaras:oConservative, naked, name means “sky clad”, only men-Moksha: release from rebirth (samsara)-Mahavira:oBorn in Bihar, IndiaoBorn 599 BC, died at the age of 72oRajah = ruler (father of Mahavira)oKshatriya (warrior and civic rulers)oAt age 30 he left his family – was unhappy in his marriageoParshva = band of ascetics (believed they became too lax)oLived an extremely ascetic life for 12 years and attained mokshaoAhimsa: non-injury to all living beingsoWould not talk to anyone to avoid attachmento

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